1971 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament
| 1971 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 25 | ||||
| Finals site |
Astrodome Houston, Texas |
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| Champions |
UCLA (7th title, 7th title game, 8th Final Four) |
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| Runner-up |
Villanova (Vacated) (1st title game, 2nd Final Four) |
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| Semifinalists |
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| Winning coach | John Wooden (7th title) | ||||
| MOP | Howard Porter Villanova | ||||
| Attendance | 207,200 | ||||
| Top scorer |
Jim McDaniels Western Kentucky (147 points) |
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The 1971 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1971, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in Houston, Texas. A total of 29 games were played, including a third place game in each region and a national third place game.
UCLA, coached by John Wooden, won the national title with a 68–62 victory in the final game over Villanova, coached by Jack Kraft. Howard Porter of Villanova was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. However, Villanova was disqualified after the tournament for having an ineligible player, Howard Porter, who had signed with an agent prior to the tournament. Having lost to undefeated, second-ranked Penn (coached by Dick Harter) twice before, Porter did not think they would make past the regionals where third-ranked South Carolina was also in their path. However, Penn vanquished South Carolina by 15 and then had their worst game of the year against Villanova in the East Regional final, losing 90–47. Villanova's first-place finish in the east regional was relinquished to Penn, with the regional consolation game (3rd place) winner, Fordham (coached by Digger Phelps, a former Penn assistant coach), receiving 2nd place.
UCLA was going for its 5th consecutive title and was a heavy favorite over Villanova. But the Bruins did not cruise through the season in their accustomed fashion. They were severely threatened in their own conference (and backyard) by 2nd ranked Southern Cal, who lost only 2 games all season - both to UCLA. In addition, UCLA lost at Notre Dame and had several other close calls (against Washington, Oregon, and Oregon State). In the Western Regional Final, the Bruins trailed Long Beach State by 11 points midway through the 2nd half and their star player Sidney Wicks was on the bench with 4 personal fouls. But Wicks returned and avoided his 5th foul (and disqualification), and the Bruins rallied to take a 55-53 lead. With 20 seconds remaining, Wicks sunk two clinching free throws and UCLA escaped 57-55.
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